Jahmai Jones

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #19 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: With a father and brother who played in the NFL, Jones made his major league debut in 2020 to show his choice to play baseball was a sound one. After a slow development process as a high school draftee who signed for $1.1 million, Jones found his swing during the second half of 2019 at Double-A Mobile, after a tough first half. By the time he was traded to the Orioles for Alex Cobb in February 2021, his stock had plummeted significantly. He hit in spurts in the minors before struggling on his return to the big leagues late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones had moments in 2021 where his average hit tool and fringe-average power showed up in games. Upon his arrival in the majors, he was attacked with inside fastballs and never made the proper adjustment, leading to plenty of strikeouts and weak contact. Jones’ offensive profile complements a high-energy presence both on and off the field, as Jones’ plus speed and athleticism have helped him transition from center field to second base. He could grow into an average defender at the position, but remains inexperienced there and is still smoothing out his actions.
  
  The Future: Jones could grow into an everyday player for a second-division club and is still young, but has plenty to improve on based on his time in the majors in 2021.
  
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #17 prospect in 2021
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The son of former NFL linebacker Andre Jones, Jahmai cycled through a position change and multiple swing changes in the minors before clicking in the second half of 2019, when he hit .292 with a .370-on base percentage from July on at Double-A Mobile. He followed up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and earned his first big league callup in August 2020. The Orioles acquired him after the season in exchange for Alex Cobb.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has a promising foundation with solid athleticism, advanced plate discipline, an excellent work ethic and natural leadership skills. He’s at his best when he takes a level, direct swing and struggled when he tried to implement a launch-angle swing at the Angels’ request. With his swing back in order, Jones hit seven homers at the alternate site and did a better job of hitting with two strikes and driving the ball the other way. He makes enough contact to project as an average hitter and has enough thump to approach double-digit home runs. Originally an outfielder, Jones struggled with a transition to second base but has grown to look more natural at the position. His range to both sides, the smoothness of his double-play turns and arm have all improved to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones projects as a solid utility player, who can play all three outfield spots, if he can maintain his best swing. He should return to the majors at some point in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #11 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: A onetime top prospect, Jones was a mess his first two months at Double-A Mobile as he struggled to implement a swing change intended to incorporate a greater launch angle. The Angels finally let him revert to his old stance in the summer and he promptly began hitting. Jones hit .292 with a .370 on-base percentage from July through the end of the season, then hit .302 with an .886 OPS in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Consistency has eluded Jones the last two seasons, and not always because it was his fault. The Angels converted him from center field to second base in 2018, then attempted to overhaul his swing in 2019. Jones battled through the challenges presented to him, and the Angels love his athleticism, plate discipline, attitude and work ethic. When right, Jones controls the strike zone, lines the ball to the gaps and amasses doubles with his above-average speed. He gets in trouble when he gets uphill in his swing path and tries to hit home runs. Jones is still learning the finer points of second base but is improving and has a chance to be a playable, if only fringe-average, defender there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones salvaged his stock with a strong second half and was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. He should open 2020 at Triple-A Salt Lake.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #5 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Jones reported to his first big league camp in 2018 as an outfielder but was moved to second base in March, a challenging transition that led to a drop-off at the plate. Jones' OPS dropped nearly 75 points from 2017 to 2018 as he focused on learning his new position, but he still made it up to Double-A.
  
  Scouting Report: Despite Jones' 2018 struggles, evaluators still see strong offensive tools. He has plus bat speed, average power and a good feel for the strike zone. He is thick and strong, and the ball jumps off his bat to all fields. His plus speed makes him a basestealing threat, and he can turn on the jets to log doubles and triples. Defensively, Jones remains a work in progress at second base. He sat back on grounders and let the ball play him early in 2018 but learned to be more aggressive with his first step, which improved his range and helped him get better hops and angles. Jones struggles with the short, softer throw from the hole and still needs polish turning the pivot on double plays.
  
  The Future: Jones has a chance to be to be playable at second base in the words of one evaluator. The hope is his offense ticks back up in 2019 as he gets more comfortable playing his new position.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #3 prospect in 2018
  The stiffer the competition, the better Jones performed last season. Pitchers exploited his tendency to swing at breaking balls out of the zone early and Jones got off to a sluggish start at low Class A Burlington, where he slashed .165/.211/.282 in his first 26 games. But Jones, who signed for $1.1 million, rebounded so strongly he earned a July 20 promotion to high Class A Inland Empire, where he put up better numbers than he did at Burlington. Jones is an explosive athlete with NFL bloodlines--his father and two brothers played in the league. He makes consistent contact, sprays line drives all over the field, has plus speed and gap-to-gap power, and his defense is improving. Jones is thick and strong, and the ball jumps off his bat. Scouts like his makeup, work ethic and the adjustments he makes with two strikes, when he widens his stance, chokes up and tries to put the ball in play. A short stroke and plus bat speed indicate that Jones could be an above-average hitter, but there are questions whether he'll be able to manage the strike zone at higher levels. He doesn't project as a home run hitter, and an adequate but not overwhelming arm could push him to left field. If he maintains his speed and improves his plate discipline, Jones could be a solid big-league leadoff man. He should see Double-A Mobile in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2017
  Jones, who hails from a rich football background, comes by his athleticism naturally. His late father Andre played for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame and in the NFL, while brother T.J. played wide receiver for the Detroit Lions in 2015. Another brother, Malachi, played collegiately at Appalachian State. Jahmai was a star wide receiver as a high school sophomore before giving up the gridiron to focus on baseball. He passed on a baseball scholarship to North Carolina to join the Angels organization, signing for $1.1 million as a second-round pick in 2015. Jones ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect last year, behind first-rounder Taylor Ward, but jumped to the top of the list in 2017 as a supreme athlete who has started to add polish. He showed significant improvement at 2016 extended spring training, both in his baseball instincts and with an improved physique better suited for baseball than football. Those gains carried through to his outstanding season at Rookie-level Orem, and he earned a late promotion to low Class A Burlington. Jones stands out most for top-of-the-scale makeup that will consistently allow him to play above his tools. He took on more of a leadership role in his second pro season, helping to position other outfielders during his time at Orem. His baseball smarts, quick-twitch athleticism and above-average to plus speed should allow him to stay in center field, though some observers are concerned that his body is maxed out and that he may slow down with age. He takes good routes in the outfield and consistently re-positions himself based on hitter tendencies. His average arm should be sufficient for a corner spot if he moves out of center, a likely possibility with the Angels having Mike Trout entrenched at the position. At the plate, Jones has a short stroke with plus bat speed that indicates he could be an above-average hitter in time. He hits mostly line drives with gap-to-gap power, but shows average raw power with a good swing path and likely will hit for more power as he progresses. Jones has controlled the strike zone well against lower-level pitchers and makes a lot of contact--he struck out less than 13 percent of the time at Orem. He has the ability to make adjustments quickly but needs to work on the short game to round out his skill set. Jones is an instinctual runner who stole 20 bases in 26 attempts in 2016. He's a good teammate and clubhouse leader with an advanced mix of smarts, skills and effort that earns everyone's respect. Jones was young for his high school class and just turned 19 in August. After getting a brief taste of full-season ball at the end of 2016, he likely will return to low Class A to start 2017, but he could earn a bump to high Class A Inland Empire by midseason. One Angels official called Jones the most likely prospect in the organization to contribute at the big league level, making him even more valuable to a farm system lacking potential impact talent.
• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2016
  The Angels went heavy on college hitters in the 2015 draft, with Jones the lone high school selection among Los Angeles' top 10 picks. A second-rounder who signed for $1.1 million, he passed on a scholarship offer from North Carolina. Jones' late father Andre played linebacker at Notre Dame and for one season in the NFL, while his older brothers T.J. and Malachi are football wide receivers for the Detroit Lions and Appalachian State, respectively. Jones stands out for his elite makeup and work ethic that will allow him to play above his tools. He played most of the 2015 season at age 17 in the Rookie-level Arizona League, and though he hit just .244, the adversity helped him grow. Jones makes hard contact with a good swing path and the ability to keep his hands inside the ball. He hits line drives to all fields but won't hit for a lot of power until he develops more loft in his swing. Jones should be able to stay in center field, where he comes in and goes back well on flyballs, and his average arm makes right field an option. A plus runner now, he may slow down with age. Jones could be ready to handle a jump to low Class A Burlington in 2016, but more likely he will stay behind in extended spring training before heading to Rookie-level Orem in June.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #71 prospect in 2015 draft
  Jones' late father Andre Jones was a linebacker on Notre Dame's 1988 national championship team, and two of his older brothers followed their father's footsteps to play college football. Jahmai likely could have taken that route as well, and earned honorable mention all-state honors as a sophomore wide receiver at Wesleyan. But he has since given up the sport, dedicating himself to baseball instead. That decision looks to be paying off for the North Carolina commit. Jones' quick hands allow him to whip the bat through the zone and he generates good power, especially when he can turn on the ball. He squares balls up well and makes a lot of hard contact. The question scouts must answer with Jones is where he will play defensively. He occasionally posted plus run times last summer, but more typically looked like an average runner. He's slimmed down some since then and looks less like a football player, which should give him a better chance to stay in center field. Moving to a corner would put more pressure on his bat, and opinions are divided on whether he will have enough power to profile in left field. Jones will put in the work to improve wherever he settles on the diamond, as he earns praise for his makeup and high-energy play.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked California League #9 prospect in 2017
  Promoted to the Cal League on July 20, Jones made a big impression in a short time. Regarded as a tooled-up player who was raw at the plate, he hit .302 and put together a best-in-the-league 25-game hitting streak. Jones features a quick bat and above-average raw power, and his legendary work ethic allowed him to turn those tools into production this year. He flashed plus-plus run times and advanced instincts on delayed steals, curveball reads and timing pitchers en route to 27 stolen bases on the year. Add in plus defense in center field with elite athleticism and a solid-average arm, plus natural leadership qualities that have long earned rave reviews, and Jones cemented himself as a top prospect with his run through the league. "He makes the game look easy defensively . . . and offensively he impacts the baseball," Rancho Cucamonga manager Drew Saylor said. "It's going to be doubles over anything, but he knows who he is and he tries to get on base and terrorize you with stolen bases. I like him a lot. He can be a special guy some day."
• 
  Ranked Pioneer League #5 prospect in 2016
  The buzz for Jones started early this year, with scouts raving in extended spring training about how much the five-tool athlete had improved since last year. He continued his development with a strong PL season before moving up to low Class A before turning 19. At the plate Jones has a short stroke with plus bat speed, hitting mostly line drives with gap-to-gap power. He needs to work on his short game to round out his skill set. A plus runner, Jones comes from a football background and continues to get his body into better shape for baseball. Scouts laud Jones' makeup, gamer mentality and tools, with all five grading as above-average or better now that he's significantly improved his outfield play this year. Scouts believe he can stay in center field because he has learned to position himself and take a leadership role there.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Complex League #13 prospect in 2015
  Jones comes from a football background, with multiple family members playing the game at the college level. After playing both sports early in his high school career, Jones eventually dedicated himself to baseball, with his skills on the diamond starting to match the raw athleticism during his first summer as a pro. The Angels signed the second-round pick for $1.1 million. Rival managers and talent evaluators unanimously lauded Jones for his great makeup and solid work ethic. He's a good competitor who is really just starting to tap into his potential. At the plate, Jones has a short swing to the ball with good bat speed. He makes good contact and projects to hit for average. He has below-average power now but is expected to hit with gap power to all fields. Jones will need to stay in center field to maximize his value, but he's just learning the position. He has above-average speed and an accurate arm that is a tick above-average. "He's a great athlete," Angels manager Elio Sarmiento said. "The things he brings to the baseball field are unreal."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #89 prospect in 2018

• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: With a father and brother who played in the NFL, Jones made his major league debut in 2020 to show his choice to play baseball was a sound one. After a slow development process as a high school draftee who signed for $1.1 million, Jones found his swing during the second half of 2019 at Double-A Mobile, after a tough first half. By the time he was traded to the Orioles for Alex Cobb in February 2021, his stock had plummeted significantly. He hit in spurts in the minors before struggling on his return to the big leagues late in the season.
  
  Scouting Report: Jones had moments in 2021 where his average hit tool and fringe-average power showed up in games. Upon his arrival in the majors, he was attacked with inside fastballs and never made the proper adjustment, leading to plenty of strikeouts and weak contact. Jones’ offensive profile complements a high-energy presence both on and off the field, as Jones’ plus speed and athleticism have helped him transition from center field to second base. He could grow into an average defender at the position, but remains inexperienced there and is still smoothing out his actions.
  
  The Future: Jones could grow into an everyday player for a second-division club and is still young, but has plenty to improve on based on his time in the majors in 2021.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The son of former NFL linebacker Andre Jones, Jahmai cycled through a position change and multiple swing changes in the minors before clicking in the second half of 2019, when he hit .292 with a .370-on base percentage from July on at Double-A Mobile. He followed up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and earned his first big league callup in August 2020. The Orioles acquired him after the season in exchange for Alex Cobb.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has a promising foundation with solid athleticism, advanced plate discipline, an excellent work ethic and natural leadership skills. He's at his best when he takes a level, direct swing and struggled when he tried to implement a launch-angle swing at the Angels' request. With his swing back in order, Jones hit seven homers at the alternate site and did a better job of hitting with two strikes and driving the ball the other way. He makes enough contact to project as an average hitter and has enough thump to approach double-digit home runs. Originally an outfielder, Jones struggled with a transition to second base but has grown to look more natural at the position. His range to both sides, the smoothness of his double-play turns and arm have all improved to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones projects as a solid utility player, who can play all three outfield spots, if he can maintain his best swing. He should return to the majors at some point in 2021.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The son of former NFL linebacker Andre Jones, Jahmai cycled through a position change and multiple swing changes in the minors before clicking in the second half of 2019, when he hit .292 with a .370-on base percentage from July on at Double-A Mobile. He followed up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and earned his first big league callup in August 2020. The Orioles acquired him after the season in exchange for Alex Cobb.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has a promising foundation with solid athleticism, advanced plate discipline, an excellent work ethic and natural leadership skills. He’s at his best when he takes a level, direct swing and struggled when he tried to implement a launch-angle swing at the Angels’ request. With his swing back in order, Jones hit seven homers at the alternate site and did a better job of hitting with two strikes and driving the ball the other way. He makes enough contact to project as an average hitter and has enough thump to approach double-digit home runs. Originally an outfielder, Jones struggled with a transition to second base but has grown to look more natural at the position. His range to both sides, the smoothness of his double-play turns and arm have all improved to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones projects as a solid utility player, who can play all three outfield spots, if he can maintain his best swing. He should return to the majors at some point in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Hitting: 50. Power: 40. Running: 60. Fielding: 50. Arm: 45.
  
  TRACK RECORD: The son of former NFL linebacker Andre Jones, Jahmai cycled through a position change and multiple swing changes in the minors before clicking in the second half of 2019, when he hit .292 with a .370-on base percentage from July on at Double-A Mobile. He followed up with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League and earned his first big league callup in August 2020. The Orioles acquired him after the season in exchange for Alex Cobb.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Jones has a promising foundation with solid athleticism, advanced plate discipline, an excellent work ethic and natural leadership skills. He’s at his best when he takes a level, direct swing and struggled when he tried to implement a launch-angle swing at the Angels’ request. With his swing back in order, Jones hit seven homers at the alternate site and did a better job of hitting with two strikes and driving the ball the other way. He makes enough contact to project as an average hitter and has enough thump to approach double-digit home runs. Originally an outfielder, Jones struggled with a transition to second base but has grown to look more natural at the position. His range to both sides, the smoothness of his double-play turns and arm have all improved to average.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones projects as a solid utility player, who can play all three outfield spots, if he can maintain his best swing. He should return to the majors at some point in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A onetime top prospect, Jones was a mess his first two months at Double-A Mobile as he struggled to implement a swing change intended to incorporate a greater launch angle. The Angels finally let him revert to his old stance in the summer and he promptly began hitting. Jones hit .292 with a .370 on-base percentage from July through the end of the season, then hit .302 with an .886 OPS in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Consistency has eluded Jones the last two seasons, and not always because it was his fault. The Angels converted him from center field to second base in 2018, then attempted to overhaul his swing in 2019. Jones battled through the challenges presented to him, and the Angels love his athleticism, plate discipline, attitude and work ethic. When right, Jones controls the strike zone, lines the ball to the gaps and amasses doubles with his above-average speed. He gets in trouble when he gets uphill in his swing path and tries to hit home runs. Jones is still learning the finer points of second base but is improving and has a chance to be a playable, if only fringe-average, defender there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones salvaged his stock with a strong second half and was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. He should open 2020 at Triple-A Salt Lake.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: A onetime top prospect, Jones was a mess his first two months at Double-A Mobile as he struggled to implement a swing change intended to incorporate a greater launch angle. The Angels finally let him revert to his old stance in the summer and he promptly began hitting. Jones hit .292 with a .370 on-base percentage from July through the end of the season, then hit .302 with an .886 OPS in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Consistency has eluded Jones the last two seasons, and not always because it was his fault. The Angels converted him from center field to second base in 2018, then attempted to overhaul his swing in 2019. Jones battled through the challenges presented to him, and the Angels love his athleticism, plate discipline, attitude and work ethic. When right, Jones controls the strike zone, lines the ball to the gaps and amasses doubles with his above-average speed. He gets in trouble when he gets uphill in his swing path and tries to hit home runs. Jones is still learning the finer points of second base but is improving and has a chance to be a playable, if only fringe-average, defender there.
  
  THE FUTURE: Jones salvaged his stock with a strong second half and was added to the 40-man roster in the offseason. He should open 2020 at Triple-A Salt Lake.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Jones went to his first big league camp this spring as an outfielder. In March, he was moved to second base. Jones needs to improve his double-play pivots and get more comfortable with the arm angles required of an infielder, but evaluators believe he has a chance to eventually be playable at second. Jones has plus bat speed, respectable power and a good feel for the strike zone, but his offensive performance has dropped off as he’s focused on his defensive transition.
• December, 2017 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Jones is an explosive athlete whose father and two brothers played in the NFL. He signed for $1.1 million in 2015 and spent most of his first two seasons in Rookie ball. Jones raised his profile in 2017 by mastering two Class A levels. Scouting Report: Pitchers exploited Jones' tendency to chase breaking balls early in 2017, and he hit just .165 at low Class A Burlington in his first 26 games. He rebounded to earn a July 20 promotion to high Class A Inland Empire. Jones makes consistent contact, sprays line drives all over the field, has plus speed and gap-to-gap power--and his defense is improving. His build is thick and strong, and the ball jumps off his bat. A short stroke and plus bat speed indicate that Jones could be an above-average hitter, but there are questions whether he'll be able to manage the strike zone. He doesn't project as a home run hitter but scouts like the adjustments he makes with two strikes, when he widens his stance, chokes up and tries to put the ball in play. An average arm could fit best in left field. The Future: If Jones maintains his speed and improves his plate discipline, he could be a prototype leadoff man. He should see Double-A Mobile in 2018.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Jones, who hails from a rich football background, comes by his athleticism naturally. His late father Andre played for Lou Holtz at Notre Dame and in the NFL, while brother T.J. played wide receiver for the Detroit Lions in 2015. Another brother, Malachi, played collegiately at Appalachian State. Jahmai was a star wide receiver as a high school sophomore before giving up the gridiron to focus on baseball. He passed on a baseball scholarship to North Carolina to join the Angels organization, signing for $1.1 million as a second-round pick in 2015. Jones ranked as the organization's No. 2 prospect last year, behind first-rounder Taylor Ward, but jumped to the top of the list in 2017 as a supreme athlete who has started to add polish. Jones showed significant improvement at 2016 extended spring training, both in his baseball instincts and with an improved physique better suited for baseball than football. Those gains carried through to his outstanding season at Rookie-level Orem, and he earned a late promotion to low Class A Burlington. Scouting Report: Jones stands out most for top-of-the-scale makeup that will consistently allow him to play above his tools. He took on more of a leadership role in his second pro season, helping to position other outfielders during his time at Orem. Jones' baseball smarts, quick-twitch athleticism and above-average to plus speed should allow him to stay in center field, though some observers are concerned that his body is maxed out and that he may slow down with age. He takes good routes in the outfield and consistently re-positions himself based on hitter tendencies. His average arm should be sufficient for a corner spot if he moves out of center, a likely possibility with the Angels having Mike Trout entrenched at the position for the foreseeable future. At the plate, Jones has a short stroke with plus bat speed that indicates he could be an above-average hitter in time. He hits mostly line drives with gap-to-gap power, but shows average raw power with a good swing path and likely will hit for more power as he progresses. Jones has controlled the strike zone well against lower-level pitchers and makes a lot of contact. He has the ability to make adjustments quickly but needs to work on the short game to round out his skill set. Jones is an instinctual runner who stole 20 bases in 26 attempts over 64 games in 2016. He's a good teammate and clubhouse leader with an advanced mix of smarts, skills and effort that earns everyone's respect. The Future: Jones was young for his high school class and just turned 19 in August. After getting a brief taste of full-season ball at the end of 2016, he likely will return to low Class A Burlington to start 2017, but Jones could earn a bump to high Class A Inland Empire by midseason. One Angels official called Jones the most likely prospect in the organization to contribute at the big league level, making him even more valuable to a farm system lacking potential impact talent.